Thousands protest across Germany after AfD election victory

Thousands of people took to the streets across Germany on Monday to protest the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, after the far-right party’s sweeping victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.

At Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, police counted about 5,000 demonstrators, while organizers said roughly 14,000 people attended. The demonstration, organized at short notice by Campact and the climate movement Fridays for Future, passed without incident, police said.

“

Fascism is not an alternative

Among those taking part were climate activist Luisa Neubauer and leading candidates from the Greens and the Left Party for Berlin’s state election on Sept. 20. Protesters carried signs reading “Fascism is not an alternative” and “Stop the AfD Nazis! End racism and cuts to social benefits.” The crowd also chanted, “All together against fascism!”

“

Stop the AfD Nazis! End racism and cuts to social benefits.

The AfD won Sunday’s election by a large margin but fell short of an absolute majority. That leaves open the possibility that Germany could see its first state government led by the party. The domestic intelligence service has classified the AfD branch in Saxony-Anhalt as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization.

Demonstrations were also held in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where a new state parliament will be elected this month and the AfD leads in voter surveys. Police reported several hundred protesters in Schwerin and a singing demonstration of more than 500 people in Rostock. About 1,200 people marched through Essen carrying rainbow flags and signs demanding an immediate ban on the AfD. Hundreds protested in Potsdam and elsewhere in Hesse, including about 80 people in Kassel. Police said about 2,500 people demonstrated in Frankfurt on Sunday, demanding a renewed review of whether the AfD could be banned.

“

All together against fascism!